DE COTTA LAW was established in 1983 as one of the first law firms in Spain to have qualified lawyers from Spain and the UK working together. We understand what businesses need as we have first-hand experience and can provide legal advice in your language for property, employment, litigation, private client and mediation work.

De Cotta Law has property experts dealing with purchases of commercial property and residential property. For more than 30 years we have been acting for businesses and private individuals purchasing hotels, resorts and commercial premises as well as luxury villas and holiday homes for British clients throughout Spain and the Canary Islands.

We will work closely with your accountants and tax advisers to ensure that the purchasing structure is ideal for your business or for private use. We can also provide you with unparalleled access to the professional advisors your business needs in Spain. We have long established relationships with architects, surveyors, Health and safety experts and with specialists in grants and subsidies.

A knowledge of employment law and practises is important in all businesses and especially when you are setting up in another country. We can provide you with advice in your language on all aspects of employment law including national and local collective agreements, litigation, disciplinary proceedings and arbitration of employment disputes.

Working closely with your accountants and payroll professionals to ensure that you fully understand your legal obligations and can develop company practises and handbooks that help to prevent problems arising. In the event of any court proceedings before the labour and civil courts our lawyers can act for your business in defending your interests.

Your business will need lawyers who can seek negotiated settlements and who have experience in mediating disputes. However at some stage it may be necessary to litigate against debtors or to defend your business against an action brought by a competitor or employee. Before entering into any litigation we can provide you with a cost benefit analysis to ensure that you understand the implications of taking or defending an action.

Our Spanish lawyers have many years of experience and have rights of audience at all levels of the courts. We will provide legal advice at an early stage and prepare all the evidence to prove your case. Breach of contract, debt enforcement, injunctions, charges on property and misuse of company information are some of the areas of civil litigation that we deal with. We also have a niche practise in criminal litigation and have a highly respected Personal Injury department.

Since 1983 we have been providing private clients with legal advice in your language. All of our lawyers are experienced in all areas of law that you may need. The property department has been built up during many years with a very large portfolio of clients of many nationalities. Whether it is to purchase a new Spanish home to live in if you are moving here to work or if you need advice on buying holiday rental properties we can provide the range of legal services you will need. As we have English qualified lawyers working with Spanish lawyers we can advise on international probate, wills, trusts, family and matrimonial matters as well as dealing with complex estates where assets are held in more than one jurisdiction.

Mediation and alternative dispute resolution are the best option for your business and we will always look to settle disputes rather than rush to litigation. In cross border disputes our unique understanding of the different cultures and languages throughout Europe can help to prevent a case becoming costly and time consuming for your business. One of our lawyers is a government appointed arbitrator and can advise on possible settlements with other businesses, banks, regional and local authorities and employees to reach an agreement that suits your business.

We are members of the European House of International Mediation with excellent relationships with lawyers from the UK, Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, Turkey and many other countries worldwide. Our experience is our great strength and businesses and private clients benefit from speaking to someone with a pragmatic and broad view who can help with high quality legal advice on settlements and resolutions of legal matters.

As well as providing comprehensive legal services to the British business community in Spain we deal with all aspects of civil law including Insolvency, Personal Injury, Wills & Probate, Trusts, Family and Matrimonial law, Non-Resident taxes on property, and Holiday Resort or Hotel development. Within the firm we speak English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Italian and Scandinavian languages so can help to ensure that your transaction runs smoothly when dealing with people and businesses from the many nationalities that live and work in Spain.

Establish your foothold in Europe – English & Spanish lawyers working for you in Spain